Gasoline-reserve device



.W. H. MUZZY. GASOLINE RESERVE DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27. 1921.

1 ,40'7,800, Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

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PATENT OFFICE.

WEIJIAM H. MUZZY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 2 8, 1922.

Original application filed December 3,1919, Serial 1i"o."342,077. Divided and this application filed Jan'- nary 27, 1921. Serial No. 440,474.

To all whom it mar/y concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MUZZY, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and-State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in irasoline-Reserve Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This application is a division of my pending application Number 342,077 filed Dec. 3rd, 1919.

The invention relates to improvements in reserve supply devices for the fuel feeding systems of automobiles or the like and has more particular relation to improvements in devices which suspend the operation of the automobile engine when the main supply is exhausted and permit the engine to resume its operation upon certain devices being adjusted to bring the reserve supply ,under the action of the fuel feeding devices.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide adevice of the character above stated which will be simple in construction and free of all fine wor (ing points or joints which might leak gasoline or air pressure and destroy the effectiveness of the feed of the fuel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of the class mentioned which cannot be left in the wrong adjustment when the tank is refilled.

The invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrange-f ments of parts all of which will be hereinafter more particularly set forth" and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the figure represents a detail vertical section, partly in. elevation, ofthe devices embodying the present invention, applied to the main gasoline tank of a machine. In the aforesaid drawings 1 represents.

ing in the top of the tank 1 and is provided with a pendent tube 3 which extends down into the tank to within about l. inch of the bottom of the tank. This tube 3 forms a continuation of the nipple 2 and is provided at a certain distance from its lower end with and air vent 19 opening into a passage 21 'formed in a block or casting 18 which is soldered or otherwise secured to the tube 3 at this level. This block is formed with a valve seat 22 opening above the passage 21 and arranged to receive a verticall movable thereon. A cork float 16 is fast to the stem 15 just above the valve 17. The washer 14 when moved upward, engages the latching nose 13 of a latch 11 pivoted in a lug 12 pendent from the casting 4. This washer pushes the latch back or to one side until it passes above the nose 13, when the latch drops into place under the washer and thus automatically prevents the .stem 15 from again descending until the latch 11 is operated from the exterior of the tank. This operation of the latch is accomplished by a push button 5 normally forced upward by a coil spring 6 and having a stem 7 guided in the casting and limitedin its upward movements by a washer 9 which contacts with the under side of the casting 4. The lower end of the stem 7 engages the pivoted latch 11 so that when thebutton 5 is depressed the latch is rocked to disengage the nose stem 5 to drop and the valve 17 to close.

It will be seen from the above that the operator of the machine is informed that the main supply of his gasoline is exhausted by the stopping of his engine when the level of the gaso ine reaches and uncovers the air vent 19; This allows air instead of gasoline 3 from'the washer 14 and allow the to be drawn up the pipe 3, the valve 17 having been prev ously opened and latched in its open posit1on.. The operator or driver now depresses the button5 and releases the stein, which in dropping reseats the valve 17 and in effect closes the'air vent 19. This reter of the engine.

- added fuel.

causes the suction to be reestablished and the gasoline fed from the remainder of the tank.

its seat is suflicient as the presence of the gasoline at about this level seals the valve and corrects any inaccuracy in its seating. This is due to the fact that the area of the valve is such in relation to the maximum suction through the pipe 3, that the valve must in effect be fully open to destroy the suction and stop the feed throu h the pipe. With anything less than this full opening the gasoline will feed through the pipe 3 the short distance necessary to take it above the air vent 19 when it will be-caught by the full force of the suction and fed to the carbu- From this it will be seen that such a thing as a leaky valve, dirt under the valve or an improperly seating valve will have no effect upon the practical operation of the device.

In this feature of the present invention lies one of the greatest improvements as it eliminates all fine working points and ground valves and cooks and does away with any danger of leaks such as devices at present in use areliable to.

By applying the valve and the controlling devices for the same to the exterior of the pipe 3 the latter remains unbroken and thus not subject to any leaks and the pipe also remains unobstructed.

Applicant has combined in the present case the air port located near the level of the gasoline reserve with the external control of the air port with its light fitting and light operating valve and the small operating k float in a thoroughly practical construction. All Of these functions co-act to secure the desired result of the automatic reset by If the valve were of a character that required a firm seat it could not be operated by the very light lifting power of the float and it is only, because the valve is of this loose fitting character that the float has no more work to do than the mere lifting of the weight of the valve and its stem. This is also assisted by the vibration of the machine and the surge of the gasoline and its oscillating influence on the float. It will be understood that the end 13 of the latch is weighted so that the latch naturally falls into position when released from the washer 14 or the stem 7.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a fuel tank, of a supply pipe projecting down into the gasoline in the tank and having an air aperture at a certain distance from its open end, means for closing this air aperture at will, and devices for automatically resetting said means by the fuel placed in the tank.

2. The combination with a fuel tank, of a supply pipe projecting down into the same and having an air aperture at a certain distance from its open end, a valve and connections for opening and closing this air aperture,.and means for operating this valve by the added fuel supplied to the tank.

3. The combination with a fuel tank, of

a supply pipe projecting into the same and having an air vent, devices for closing the air vent, and means for opening the air vent by added fuel supplied to the tank. 7 4. The combination with a fuel tank, of a supply pipe projecting into the same and apertured at a certain distance from its open end, a valve and connections for closing this aperture, and a float in the tank for operating the valve to openit by the added fuel supplied to the tank.

5. The combination Witha fuel tank, of a supply pipe projecting into the same and apertured at a certain distance from its open end, a valve for this aperture, means for closing the valve at will, and autbmatic means for opening the valve when the tank is refilled. i

6.. The combination With a fuel tank, of a supply pipe projecting into the same and apertured at a certain distance from its open end, a valve for this aperture, means for closing the valve from the exterior of the tank, and a float in the tank for opening the valve.

7. The combination with a fuel tank, of a supply pipe projecting into the same and apertured at a certain distance from its open end, a valve for closing the aperture, means independent of the valve for releasing it from the exterior of the tank, a latch for'the valve, and a float in the ta k arranged to relatch the valve.

8. The combination with a fuel tank, of-

a supply pipe projecting vertically into the same and apertured at a certain distance from its open end, a vertically movable valve for the aperture, a stem for operating the valve, a latch for the stern, means for operating the latch from the exterior of the tank, and a float in the tank for relatching the stem when the tank is refilled.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 25th day of January, A. D. 1921.

WILLIAM H. MUZZY. 

